How to vote in Missouri
Missouri voter registration guide
Missouri voter registration deadlines
- Register to vote (online): 27 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked 27 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): 27 days before Election Day
Check your Missouri voter registration status
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Missouri registration using the Missouri voter registration lookup site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
Missouri voter registration rules
To vote in Missouri you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be a resident of Missouri
- be 17.5 years old (you must be 18 by Election Day to vote)
- not be on probation or parole after conviction of a felony, until finally discharged from such probation or parole
- not be convicted of a felony or misdemeanor connected with the right of suffrage
- not be adjudged incapacitated by any court of law
- not be confined under a sentence of imprisonment.
Missouri online voter registration
- Visit the Missouri online voter registration site.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is 27 days before Election Day .
Missouri by-mail voter registration
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Enter your Missouri driver’s license number OR the last four digits of your social security number. If you don't have either number, write "NONE" here.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: You do not need to register with a party to take part in that party’s primary election, caucus, or convention.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be postmarked 27 days before Election Day .
Missouri in-person voter registration
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
- Bring your Missouri driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring ONE photo ID that shows your name, and ONE document that shows your name and Missouri address. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Missouri same day registration
Registering to vote in Missouri with a felony conviction
If you have been convicted of a felony and would like to register to vote, please visit Restore Your Vote. They will help you determine your eligibility and guide you through the process.
Missouri absentee and mail ballot guide
Missouri absentee ballot overview
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
Missouri absentee deadlines
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): N/A
- Request deadline (by mail): Received 13 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 1 day before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
Missouri absentee ballot rules
You can vote using an absentee ballot in Missouri if:
- you will be away from home on Election Day
- you are incapacitated or confined due to illness or physical disability
- you are the caretaker for an incapacitated or physically disabled person
- you are restricted by religious belief or practice
- you will be working at a polling place on Election Day that is not your designated polling place.
- you are incarcerated but not yet convicted of a crime
- You are a participant in the Department of State's Address Confidentiality Program
Missouri online ballot request
Missouri does not allow you to request your ballot online.
Missouri by-mail ballot request
- Download the Missouri absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received 13 days before Election Day .
Missouri in-person ballot request
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 1 day before Election Day .
After you receive your ballot
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by Election Day .
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day .
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
Missouri absentee ballot ID requirements
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot: You must include your Missouri driver's license, state ID Number, or the last 4 digits of your social security number on your absentee ballot application.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot: To return your by-mail ballot you must include your signature and the signature of a notary or court clerk. Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
Missouri absentee ballot tracker
Missouri does not have a statewide ballot tracker. Contact your local election office.
Missouri absentee ballot curing
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it.
- Your ballot will also be rejected if it's not notarized.
Missouri emergency ballots
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot RulesMissouri law does not mention emergency ballots. There are no exceptions to the standard absentee ballot deadline.
Missouri does not offer emergency ballots.
Contact your local election office
Missouri early voting guide
Missouri early voting dates
- Early voting starts: 14 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
What to bring
You must show ID at the polls, but it does not need to be a photo ID. Acceptable forms of ID include a non-expired ID issued by the State of Missouri or the Federal Government, a tribal ID, or a student ID issued by an accredited Missouri college or university. If you don't have an ID, you can show a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or official government document that shows your name and current address. If you are unable to present any of these forms of identification you may still vote using a provisional ballot.
Missouri voter ID guide
ID requirements for voting in person
You must show ID at the polls, but it does not need to be a photo ID. Acceptable forms of ID include a non-expired ID issued by the State of Missouri or the Federal Government, a tribal ID, or a student ID issued by an accredited Missouri college or university. If you don't have an ID, you can show a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or official government document that shows your name and current address. If you are unable to present any of these forms of identification you may still vote using a provisional ballot.
ID requirements when requesting an absentee or mail ballot
You must include your Missouri driver's license, state ID Number, or the last 4 digits of your social security number on your absentee ballot application.
ID requirements when returning an absentee or mail ballot
To return your by-mail ballot you must include your signature and the signature of a notary or court clerk. Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
ID requirements for online voter registration
N/A
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Missouri elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Secretary of State P.O. Box 1767 Jefferson City, MO 65102‐1767